TUSCARORA WILDLIFE EDUCATION PROJECT

TWEP: Tuscarora Wildlife Education Project – The Charles Brightbill Environmental Center is managed by Carolyn S. Bell. The Director schedules programs and coordinates requests from community groups and organizations wishing to tour the Center. All programs are open to the public. The Center and its resources are available to teachers in the Tuscarora School District as well as other groups who may be interested in using the Center. History: 1987 – A group of Tuscarora School District residents and educators formed the Tuscarora Wildlife Education Project (TWEP). With the support the president of the World Peace Foundation and the senior partner of Rhoads and Sinon, TWEP was formed as a nonprofit charitable foundation. 1987-1999 – The founding group approached the Tuscarora School District for space to begin the project. TWEP was given a classroom at JBHS. The Project acquired the trophy collection of Claire Winter. Charles Brightbill, a teacher in the Tuscarora School District and an environmentalist at Cowan’s Gap State Park, worked as the director of the TWEP classroom until his death in 1994. Over 19,000 visitors went through the classroom/museum that was located in the high school. 1991 – TWEP began raising money to build an environmental center by holding an annual auction/banquet. 1992 – A summer program was developed for students in the Tuscarora School District. Each summer over 100 students participate in this program which includes instruction in stream analysis, forestry, wetland restoration, plant and animal identification and field trips to study local environmental programs and areas. 1997 – TWEP acquired a 99 year lease of a section of land between the James Buchanan Middle and High Schools. Also, the Tuscarora School Board approved the building plans for the Charles T. Brightbill Environmental Center, which was constructed on the leased land. An extensive African collection of Simon Rhoads was incorporated into the museum, shortly after its completion. 1999 – TWEP had raised over $200,000 and began construction of the environmental center. 2000 – The construction was completed. The environmental center is located next to James Buchanan High School and contains a classroom/laboratory, museum, numerous displays and collections, a petting zoo, and a board/conference room.